Barriers to accessing services

This section presents documents that examine, describe, and recommend strategies for addressing barriers faced by immigrant survivors when accessing services. These barriers may include limited English proficiency, immigrant survivors’ and their children’s immigration status, and issues related to economic dependency on the perpetrator, among others. Another major barrier could be service providers who have limited resources and skills to appropriately respond to immigrant survivors' unique needs.

Immigration status has been found to have an impact on survivors' help seeking behavior. A study found that Latino immigrants were less likely than non-immigrants to seek help for domestic violence from formal agencies (6.9% vs. 14.7%) (Ingram, 2007).

“Our program doesn’t have culturally-specific shelters to provide a safe space for immigrant survivors. The local shelters we rely on are overcrowded and unable to accommodate the dietary, religious, and cultural customs of many immigrant women. These survivors feel overwhelmed and terrified in shelters.” – Advocate

Immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking often face additional challenges and barriers when seeking assistance and safety. This document discusses the importance of continuously enhancing outreach and access to services in order to provide a pathway to safety and well-being for immigrant survivors and their children.

This is a compilation of answers to frequently asked questions regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which requires all programs that receive federal funds to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to individuals with Limited English Proficiency.

This TA brief provides considerations and recommendations for program implementation and developments within anti-violence and legal services agencies. It aims to enable LEP survivors to better navigate the significant challenges faced, strengthen advocacy, and further equal access to justice.

This fact sheet raises awareness about the nexus of HIV and IPV, analyzes factors contributing to elevated risk for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls, and contextualizes cultural barriers.

The goal of this report is to highlight the concerns of transgender immigrants as an especially vulnerable group within the immigration system and to aid advocacy organizations and policy makers alike to include a consideration of trans immigrants’ rights in their work toward Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

This presentation from Francesco Duberli of Survivors’ Pathway explores the unique experiences of transgender Latin@ immigrant survivors of human trafficking and the challenging barriers they face when attempting to access services and resources.